Palo Alto – July 2, 2024 – Woodside Capital Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to SWIR Technologies, a pioneer in quantum-dot-based infrared image sensors, on their acquisition by onsemi, a leading designer, manufacturer, and supplier of semiconductor products and solutions. This strategic addition will expand depth perception and 3D imaging capabilities for next-generation imaging systems.
As part of onsemi’s continuous drive to provide the most robust, cutting-edge technologies for intelligent image sensing, the company announced today it has completed the acquisition of SWIR Vision Systems®. SWIR Vision Systems is a leading provider of CQD® (colloidal quantum-dot-based) short wavelength infrared (SWIR) technology – a technology that extends the detectable light spectrum to see through objects and capture images that were not previously possible. The integration of this patented technology within onsemi’s industry-leading CMOS sensors will significantly enhance the company’s intelligent sensing product portfolio and pave the way for further growth in key markets including industrial, automotive and defense.
CQD uses nanoparticles or crystals with unique optical and electronic properties that can be precisely tuned to absorb an extended wavelength of light. This technology extends the visibility and detection of systems beyond the range of standard CMOS sensors to SWIR wavelengths. To date, SWIR technology has been limited in adoption due to the high cost and manufacturing complexity of the traditional indium gallium arsenide (InGAas) process. With this acquisition, onsemi will combine its silicon-based CMOS sensors and manufacturing expertise with the CQD technology to deliver highly integrated SWIR sensors at lower cost and higher volume. The result are more compact, cost-effective imaging systems that offer extended spectrum and can be used in a wide array of commercial, industrial and defense applications.
These advanced SWIR sensors are able to see through dense materials, gases, fabrics and plastics, which is essential across many industries, particularly for industrial applications such as surveillance systems, silicon inspection, machine vision imaging and food inspection. In autonomous vehicle imaging, the higher spectra will create better visibility to see through difficult conditions such as extreme darkness, thick fog or winter glare.
SWIR Vision Systems is now a wholly owned subsidiary of onsemi, with its highly skilled team being integrated into the company’s Intelligent Sensing Group. The team will continue to operate in North Carolina. The acquisition is not expected to have any meaningful impact on onsemi’s near to midterm financial outlook.
About SWIR Vision Systems
SWIR Vision Systems, a North Carolina technology company, has pioneered quantum-dot-based infrared image sensors. This disruptive sensor technology has delivered full high-definition infrared sensing to the industrial imaging market for the first time.
The company’s patented CMOS-based CQD® technology has the potential to scale down the cost of infrared sensors, and approach the cost of today’s silicon-based CMOS sensors, unlocking multiple large-scale and high-growth market applications. New imaging technologies in the short wavelength infrared (SWIR) band are becoming a critical need for advanced industrial cameras, 3D mobile phones sensors, and future autonomous vehicle systems.
The company’s roots trace to multi-year corporate-funded R&D support from parent company RTI International. The core CQD® development team has been together for more than ten years, steadily advancing the technology toward commercialization. During this period, the company has received substantial funding support from DARPA. Starting up as an independent company in March 2018, the company manufactures and ships its novel Acuros® CQD® SWIR cameras globally from its operations center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
About onsemi
onsemi (Nasdaq: ON) is driving disruptive innovations to help build a better future. With a focus on automotive and industrial end-markets, the company is accelerating change in megatrends such as vehicle electrification and safety, sustainable energy grids, industrial automation, and 5G and cloud infrastructure. onsemi offers a highly differentiated and innovative product portfolio, delivering intelligent power and sensing technologies that solve the world’s most complex challenges and leads the way to creating a safer, cleaner and smarter world. onsemi is recognized as a Fortune 500® company and included in the Nasdaq-100 Index® and S&P 500® index. Learn more about onsemi at www.onsemi.com.
Woodside Capital Partners is one of the leading corporate finance advisory firms for tech companies in M&A and financings in the $30M-$500M segment. The firm has worked with some of the best entrepreneurs and investors since 2001, providing ultra-personalized service. Our team has global vision and reach, and has completed hundreds of successful engagements. We have deep industry knowledge and extensive domain experience in the following sectors: Autonomous Vehicles and ADAS, Computer Vision, Artificial Intelligence, CloudTech, Enterprise Software, Information Security, Digital Entertainment & Lifestyle, Health Tech, Internet of Things, Networking / Infrastructure, Robotics, Semiconductors, Batteries, and Energy Storage. Woodside Capital Partners is a specialist in cross-border transactions, with extensive relationships among venture capitalists, private equity investors, and corporate executives from global 1000 companies. More about Woodside Capital Partners here.
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